MARK CLATWORTHY FROM BELFAST ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL
In a significant case heard at Belfast Crown Court, 59-year-old Mark Clatworthy from Richhill Park in east Belfast was found guilty of possessing and downloading indecent images of children, along with extreme pornography involving bestiality.Despite the severity of the charges, Clatworthy was spared immediate imprisonment after reaching an agreement to serve a three-year probation order.
Judge Gordon Kerr QC explained his decision, noting that the guidelines for such offences typically recommend a sentence ranging from one to six months.
However, considering the need to protect the public and the potential for rehabilitation, the judge believed supervised probation would serve the community better.
He emphasized that this approach would also help Clatworthy address his behavior in a constructive manner.
The court was informed that Clatworthy, who resides in Belfast, had pleaded guilty to 15 counts of downloading indecent images of children, three counts of possessing extreme pornography involving animals, and two additional charges related to prohibited images of children.
The offences date back to April 23, 2010.
Prosecutor Kate McKay detailed how the offences came to light.
The police were called to a domestic incident at Clatworthy’s residence, during which his then-wife disclosed the existence of material on his computer.
Following this revelation, law enforcement officers from the PSNI E-Crime unit seized Clatworthy’s computer and storage devices for forensic examination.
The investigation uncovered a disturbing collection of material, including 239 images and videos depicting children being abused, 26 images of an extreme nature involving bestiality, and four prohibited images of children.
Clatworthy cooperated fully with the police during his interview, providing information about the location of the material and what they would find.
His defense lawyer, QC Terence McDonald, argued that no other individuals were involved and that Clatworthy had not attempted to contact children directly.
He described the offences as acts of gratification of a private and shameful nature, emphasizing that Clatworthy suffers from various medical conditions.
In addition to the probation order, Judge Kerr mandated that Clatworthy register as a sex offender for five years, disqualify him from working with children, and impose a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
The court’s decision reflects the serious nature of the crimes, but also considers the potential for rehabilitation and public safety through supervised probation.
